Tension control for ticker tape



Ap 17, 192s.

B. A. PROCTOR .TENSION CONTROL FOR TICKER TAPE Filed Feb. 2e 192e A' 2 Shee iss-Sheet l f1/went@ gamin/2A Prat/ton April 17, 1928.

1,666,306 B. A. PROCTOR TENsIoN'coNTRoL FOR TICKER TAPE Filed Feb. 26 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet arfanA Proctor.

@gyms mr Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,666,306 PATENT OFFICE'.

BARTON A. PROCTOR, NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T NEWS PROJECTION COR- PORATION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

TENSION CONTROL FOR TICKER TAPE.

This invention relates to news projection machines in general, and more particularly to machines for projecting the images from a ticker tape or the lilre,.m'd to mechanism for controlling the tension on the portion ot' the tape exposed to the light rays for projection.

'ith news projecting machines associated with a printing mechanism such as a stock 1 quotation.projecting machine in which the printing mechanism prints on the tape during the period of projection, considerable jar is transmitted to the tape receiving the impressions. If this jar, which is generally referred to as the jump, is transmitted to the portion of the tape being projected, obviously the projected images will chat-ter or jump while moving along the projection screen. l have heretofore provided a mechanism for overcoming this jump or jar, illustrated and claimed in my Patent No. 1,299,024, issued April l, 1919.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed. to provide an improved mechanism for dissipating or absorbing the jar or jump in the tape before it reaches the projecting position, which mechanism comprises a resistance element or friction creating element. and a tape drawing out 3U element. the friction creating'element cooperating with the portion of the tape located between the tape printing mechanism and the projecting position whereby, as the printing mechanism feeds the tape to the friction creating element, the latter element will ten'iporarily resist the pull of the drawing out mechanism to form a loop in which the jar or jump will be dissipatedy to preventl transmitting the or jump to the portion of the tape dlsposed in the projecting position. j

Specifically, the. present invention still further aims to provide an rimproved mechanism for dissipating or absorbing the jar or jump in the tape before it reaches the projecting position of a news projecting machine in which a support is provided and a loop forming device extends into the path of movement of the `tape and "cooperates with the support to impede the free passage of thetape to the projectingr position thereby to cause a loop to be formed in the tape between the printing mechanism and the projecting position in which loop the jar or jump will be dissipated to-prevent transmitting the jar or jump to the portion 0f the tape disposed in the projecting position.

Specifically', the present invention still fur ther aims to provide an improved mechanism for dissipating or absorbing the jar orv jump in the tape before it reaches the project-y ing position of a news projecting machine in which a looped rod or wire yieldingly engages the tape and detlects it out of its path of movement from the path of movement to the projecting positlon thereby to cause a loop to be formed in the tape between the printing mechanism and the tape engaging positionof the wire in which loop the jar or jump will be dissipated to prevent transmitting the portion of the tape disposed in the projecting position.

The present invention still further aims to provide an improved jar or jump dissipating mechanism which will cooperate to otter sufiicient resistance when the printing mechanism is at rest to relieve the printing mechanism of most, if not all, of the pull being exercised by the drawing out mechanism which may be operating at the time.

The p resent invention still further aims to provide an improved structure of the character described having a minimum number of parts and which can be manufactured and assembled at comparatively low cost.

These and other features, capabilities and jar or jump to the advantages of the invention will appear for the subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a sectional diagrammatic view showing a complete news projecting machine equipped with the present improvement/s.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of F ig.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental section showing the jump dissipating mechanism in position when the printing mechanism is operating.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5'is an enlarged detail of the lever forming an essential part of the jump dissipating mechanism and the supporting bracket therefor, taken on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the lever forming an essential part of the jump disiso sipating omechanism and the supporting lracket therefor, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail showing the lever of the jump dissipating mechanism .and tape when the printing mechanism is iiecting mirror 3, the houslng 2 being preferably secured to a wall or the like by means of brackets 4.

Below such screen housing 2, there is situated the projecting machine proper, which consists essentially of a frame 5 having an upper platform 6 and a lower platform 7. On the upper platform 6 there is formed a hou-sing 8 in one endof which there is located the mirror 9 which projects the images received through the opening 10 in the housing 8 up through the opening 11 in the housing 2 to the mirror 3 from which it is projected onto the screen 1. j

AAt the other end of the housing 8 on the platform 6 there is provided a lamp casing 12 in which the lamp 13 is mounted. The rays from the lamp 13 are projected by the condensing lens 14 to the mirror 15 and from the mirror 15 deflected to the con# densing lens 16. There is provided an opening adjacent to the condensing lens 16 over which there is preferably'provided a glass tape guide 17 to permit the tape T to pass over the same, receive the rays from the lamp 12 to form images to be projected through the projecting lens supported in the lens housing 18 from which the'images are projected to the mirror 9 and thereby deflected to the mirror 3 and by the mirror 3 deflected onto the screen 1.

In the present instance, see Fig. 4, there is attached to the casing 12 a bracket 19 for the reel 20 fto support the roll 21 of tape T. The tape after leaving the reel 20 passes to the printing mechanism 22 and from there preferably passes over a guide 23 at a position preferably above and to -the rear of the opening formed in the casing 12. The top 0 the casing 12, as indicated in Fig.`4 at 24,.is preferably cut away a short distance and has a support 25 provided in the lower end of said cut-away portion, directly above and engaging the tape guide 17.

The guide 23 is preferably composed of sheet metal and is looped at one end to form a yguiding portion 23a vextending over the cutaway portion 24 and secured at its other en d to the top of the casing 12. The tape T after leaving the printing mechanism first passes over the extended curved or looped portion 23B, forming a support at one end and then is suspended in space, passing through the lcut-away portion 244 to the support 25, at the other end of the space, thel edges 24u and 24b of the cut-away portion 24forming guides for the tape 'l in its passage to the support 2 5. Preferably as shown, the loop portionI 23a also terminates a short distance to the rear of the sup port 25. Y

After leaving the guide 23, the tape is deflected out of its path of movement by the bent or looped end 26 of the rod or lever L preferably composed of wire constituting a finger, and from there passes to the support or abutment 25 and then down over the guide 17 to thc guide roller 27 supported on the bracket 28 secured to the lower platform 7 of the frame 5. From -the roller27 the tape passes to the guide roller 29 and then to and over the positively driven roller 30, the tape being frictionally held in engagement with the roller 30 bythe roller 3'1 formed at thc lower end of the bracket 32 pivoted at 33 to a support 33a. The bracket- 32 is fixed to the weight arm 34 on which is adjustably mounted the weight 35. In the present instance, in order positively to drive the roller 30, it has secured thereto a gear 36 which meshes withl the gear 3T mounted on the shaft 38 journaled in the support 39. On the shaft 38, there is secured a worm wheel 40 which meshes with the worm 41 forming an extension of the shaft. 42 of the motor 43.

The weight 35 is so adjusted that the friction created by the roller 31 on the tape T will merely 'cause the tape T to be drawn out or fed out by its engagement with the roller 30, when the printing mechanism 22 isoperating, but will permit thc roller 30 to slip. relative to the tape T when the printing mechanism 22 is at rest in order to prevent injury to the tape T.

l The lever or rod L and its bent or looped end 26 serve several functions and form an essential part of the present improvements.

To mount the lever L, it has been found dely extend downward due to the pivotalA connection of the disc 45 with the bracket 46 and the weight of the lever L, so that the looped end 26 will normally maintain or impinge a portion of the tape T against the support 25 when the tape T is slack, as indicated in Fig. 3. It will also be seen that the looped end 26 projects a suiiicient distance so that the guide 23 will obstruct its upward movement should it be raised, as indicated in Fig. 7, in which position it will maintain or impinge a portion of the tape T in engagement with the guide 23.

, The operation of the projecting machine proper and the jump dissipating mechanism constituting thc present improvements, will operate substantially as follows: IVhen the printing mechanism or ticker 22 starts to operate it is desirable also to start the operation of the motor 43. `With such printing mechanisms, the tape T will only be fed for'- ward while the printing mechanism operates. In other words, if no quotations or thelikc are being transmitted, the ticker feed is at rest. In the embodiment illustrated, the motor 43 will continue to operate even though the ticker 22 is at rest. j

When the ticker 22 is at rest, and the motor 43 is operating, it will draw the tape T substantially taut so that it will engage the looped end 2G of the lever L and due to the relative positions of the guide portion 23n and shoulder 25 to the looped end 26. and the resulting curve formed in the tape T, the tension'on the tape T will exercise an upward pull on the lever L to cause it to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 7, where the looped end 26 impinges the tape against the guide portion 23. Thereupon, when the ticker again begins to operate, it will first relieve the tension in the tape T, form a loop, as indicated in Fig. 3, and permit the looped end 26 of the lever L to descend so that it will rest on the tape T and cause the tape T to hug the support 25 forming a friction creating surface. By means of. the friction caused between the looped end 26,w tape T and support 25. a retarding tendency will be exercised on the tape T, forming a frietional point of contact sufficient to permit a` loop being maintained between the guide portion 23a and the looped end 26,1.

as indicated in Fig. 3, that is, so localize the loop, that its slack will not continue beyond .the support 25, so that whatever jumps are transmitted to the tape T by the printing impulses of the printing mechanism will be absorbed by the loop thus formed and prevent the transmission of the jumps beyond the support 25. In turn, as the ticker starts to operate, the tape will again be free to be drawn down by the drawing out rollers 30 and 31, to cause a uniform travel of the tape T downward over the guide 17. 1

It is obvious that various changes andmodifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a news projecting machine, thecombination with a printing mechanism for printing news items on tape and the like, of a projecting mechanism, two spaced' immovable -supports, means for imparting a feeding impulse tothe tape to advance the tape a unit of distance after each printing impression thereby feeding the tape from the printing mechanism over the two spaced supports to the projecting mechanism, and friction creating means for causing a loop to be formed between the two spaced .supports, to dissipate the jump transmitted to the tape by the intermittent feeding impulse of the printing mechanism before the tape reaches the projecting mechanism.

`2. In a news projecting machine, the combination with a printing mechanism for printing characters on a tape, of a projecting mechanism, means for imparting a feeding impulse to the tape to advance the tape a unit of distance aft-er each printing impression, two spaced immovable supports, means for drawing the tape across said supports and through said projecting mechanism, and a linger engaging the tape and defiecting it out of its path of movement from one support to the other to form a loop between the printing mechanism and the projecting mechanism, to prevent the transmission of the jump caused by the intermittent feeding impulse of the print-ing meehanism to the tape when disposed in projecting position at the projecting mechanism. 3. The combination With a printing mechanism for printing news items on ticker tape, of a projecting mechanism, two spaced supports, means for imparting a feeding impulse to advance the tape a unit of distance after each printing impression thereby to feed the tape from the printing mechanism across the two supports to the projecting mechanism, means for drawing the tape through the projecting mechanism, and a' friction creating elementfor engaging the tape and pressing it against one of said supports temporarily to anchor the tape against movement by the drawing means when the tape becomes taut due to the drawing movement of the drawing means and the arrestof the feedingmeans.

4. The combination with a printing mechanism for printing news items on a ticker tape, of an image projecting mechanism, means for imparting a feeding impulse to the tapel toward the projecting mechanism after each printing impression, two spaced apart stationary supports disposed between said printing mechanism and said projecting mechanism,- means for drawing the tape lll ' ing means.

5. yThe combination with a printing mechanism for printing news items on a tape, of an nuage projecting mechanism for project- 'lng images of the items printed on the tape,

means for imparting a feeding impulse to advanceithe tape a unit of'distance toward the projecting mechanism after each print` ing impression, a guide, a fixed support, the tape passing from the printing` mechanism to the guide, then to the support, and then to the projecting mechanism, and a loop creating element extending between said guide and support to deflect the tape out of its path of movement when passing from the guide to the support toy create a. rotar-ding action on the tape thereby to form a loop to absorb the jump transmitted to the tape by the intermittent feeding impulse of said feeding means. c

6. The combination with a .printing mechanism for printing news items on a tape, of an image projecting mechanism for projecting images of the items printed on said tape, means for imparting a feeding impulse to advance the tape a unit .of distance toward the projecting mechanism after each printing impression, a guide, a fixed support, the tape pass-:ing from the printing mechanism to the guide, then to thev support, and then to the projecting mechanism, a bracket, and a rod pivotally connected to said bracket and being looped at its free end, the looped end extending between said guide and support to deflect the tape out of its path of movement when passing from the guide to the tape to create a retarding action on the tape tiereby to form a loop to aborb the jump transmitted to the tape by the intermittentmfeeding impulse of said feeding 7. The combination with a tickerliaving a jn'inting mechanism for printing news items on a tape, and a feeding means for imparting a Ifeeding impulse to advance the tape a unit of distance after each printing impression, of a lamp casingfor an image projecting mechanism having a light rays emitting opening, a guide for the tape adjacent to said light opening, the upper portion of the lamp casing having a cut-away portion the sides` of'which formv guides for the tape, a support formed in the lower portion of said cut-away portion adjacent to moesen said guide, a looped guide secured to the -lamp casing above sald cut-away portion and offset relativeto the support, the tape passing from said printing mechanism to the looped guide, then into the cut-away portion and then to the support before passing to the guide adjacent to the light opening, and a loop creating element extending into said cut-away portion between the looped guide and the support to deflect the tape out of its path of movement when passing from the looped guide to the support to create a retarding action 011 the tape Vthereby to form a loop to absorb the ump transmitted to the tape by the intermittent feeding impulse of said feeding means.

8. The combination with a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing news items on a tape, and a feeding means for imparting a feeding impulse to advance the tape a unit of distance after each printing impression, of aprojecting mechanism having a lamp casing provided with a cut-away portion, the sides of which form guides for the tape, a looped guide secured to the casing above the cut-away portion, a support formed at the bottom of the cut-away portion and extending forwardly of raid guide, the tape passing from the printing mechanismto thelooped guide, then through the` cut-away portion to the support and then to the projecting mechanism, a bracket, and a rod having/one end pivotally connected to said bracket, the other end of the rod being looped and extending into the cut-away portion to maintain the tape in engagement with the support when the printing mechanism is operating to form a loop in the tape while passing through the cut-away portion.

9. The combination with a ticker having a printingY mechanism for printing news items on a tape, and a feeding means for im# parting a feeding impulxe to advance thc tape a unit of distance after-each printing impression, of a projecting mechanism having a lamp casing provided with a cut-away portion, the sides of which form guides for the tape, a looped guide secured to the casing above the cut-away portion, a support formed at the bottom `of the eut-away portion and extending forwardly of said guide, the tape passing from the printing meehanism to the looped guide, then throuUh the cut-awa portion to the support and then to 'the projecting mechanism, a bracket, a rod having one end pivotally connected to said bracket, the other end of the rod being looped and extending into the cut-away port-ion to maintain the tape in engagement with the support when the printing mechanism is operating to form a loop in the tape while passing through the cut-away portion, and means for exercising an even tension on the tape While passing through the projecting mechanism, said tension means con- .out of its path 'tinuing to exercise tension on the tape when the printing mechanism is at rest, the relative position of the looped guide and the looped end of the rod and support cooper-V ating with the tape when the ticker is at rest and thetension means continue to operate, to raise the looped end of the rod to maintain the tape portion against the lower end of the looped guide. g

10. The combination with a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing news items on a tape, and a feeding means for imparting a feeding impulseto the tape after each printing impressioni of a projecting mechanism having a lamp casing pro# vided with a cut-away portion, the sides of which form guides for the tape; a looped guide secured to the casing above the c'utaway portion, a support formed at the bottom of the cut-away portion and extending forwardly of said guide, the tape passing from the printing mechanism to the looped guide, then through the cut-away portion to the support and then to the projecting mechanism, a bracket, a disc pivotally connect# ed to said bracket, and a rod having one end adjustably connected to said disc and its other end looped and extending into the cut-away portion to deflect the tape of movement when passing from the -looped guide to the support to form a loop for absorbing the jump transmitted to the tape by the intermittent feeding impulse of said feeding means.

11. The combination with a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing news items on a tape, and a feeding means for imparting a feeding impulse to advance the tape after each printing impression, of a projecting mechanism, means for drawing the tape from the printing mechanism to the projecting mechanism, a stationary friction creating surface, and means for causing the tape to hug said friction creating surface when said printing mechanism operates to form a loop in the tape to absorb the jars transmitted to it by the intermittent feeding impulse of said feeding-means.'

12. The combination with a ticker having a printjng mechanism for printing news items on a tape, and a feeding means for imparting a feeding impulse tothe tape after each printing impression, of a projecting mechanism having a vertically positioned light aperture, two spaced apart supports,

' means for feeding the tape from the printfJ ing mechanism over the two supports to the projecting` mechanism, means for drawing the tape from said projecting mechanism as it,is fed thereto, and a finger adapted to engage the tape between said supports and deflect it out of its direct path of movement from one support to the other to impinge the tape between said finger and one of said Supports thereby to retard the movement of sos 5 the tape at such point to form a loop in the tape when said feeding means is operating to absorb the jars\transmitted to it by the intermittent feeding impulse of said feeding means. i p

13. The combination with a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing news items on a tape a feeding means for imparting a feeding impulse to the tape after each printing impression, and having a guide for the tape, of a projecting mechanism having a vertically extending light aperture disposed at an angle to said guide, two spaced apart supports. means for feeding the tape frpm the printing mechanism over said supports to the projecting mechanism, ymeans for drawing the tape from the projecting mechanism as it is fed thereto, and a linger adapted to engage the tape between said slipports and deflect it out of its direct path of movement from one support to the other and to impinge the tape between said finger and one of'said supports when said feeding means comes to rest. thereby to oppose the drawing action of said drawing means v said feeding means from the strain that would otherwise be transmitted by said 'drawing means. J.

14. In a news projecting vmachine, the combination with a printing mechanism for printing news items on tape and the like, of a projecting mechanism, means for impart ing a feeding impulse to the tape to advance the. tape a unit of distance after each print#y ing impression thereby feeding the tape from the printing mechanism. to the projecting mechanism. a support adjacentl to the projecting mechanism and spaced from the feeding means,friction creating means for pressing the tape into engagement with said support to cause a slack loop to be formed in the space between said support1 and said feeding means, said loop functioning to dissipate the jump transmitted to the tape by the feeding impulse of the feeding means before the tape reaches the projecting mecha-v nism, and' means for drawing the tape through the projecting mechanism and cooperating with said frictioncreating means to maintain taut the portion of the tape while passing said projecting mechanism during the operatipn'of the feeding means.

15. In a news projecting machine, the combination with a printing mechanism #for printing news items on tape and the like, of a projecting mechanism, means for imparting a feeding impulse to the tape to advance the tape a unit of distance after a given printing impression thereby feeding the tape from the printing mechanism tothe project; ingmechanism, a support located between the projecting mechanism and the feeding means and being spaced from said-feeding means, a finger for pressing the tape into engagement with said support to cause a free and protect loop to be formed between said support and said feeding means, said loop functioning to dissipate the jump transmitted to thestape by the feeding impulse of the feeding means before the tape reaches the projecting mechanism, and `means for drawing. the tape through the projecting mechanism and cooperating with said finger to maintain taut the portion of the tape passing the projecting mechanism yduring the operation of the feeding means.

16. In a news projecting machine, the combination with a" printing mechanism for printing news items on tape and the like, of a projecting mechanism, means for feeding the tapethrough the projecting mechanism, an abutment located between the projecting mechanism and the printing mechanism, and a. linger for pressing the tape into 'engagementl with said abutment and functioning to dissipate the jump tjansmittcd to the tape by the printing .mechanism before the tape reaches the projecting mechanism.

' items on a tape and a 17. The combination with a ticker having a printing mechanism for printing lnews feeding mechanism f or imparting a feeding impulse to advance the tape after each printing impression, of a projecting mechanism, a jump dissipating device including ay friction creating surface between said ticker and said projecting mechanism and means for causing the tape to hug said friction creating sur ace when said printing mechanism operates, and friction drawing means for drawing the tape from the feedingmechanism through the projecting mechanism, said drawing means being free to slip relative to said tape when.

said feeding n'iechanism comes to rest but at the same time cooperating with' said feeding mechanism and jump dissipating device to create sufficient tension in said tape when the operation of said feeding mechanism is discontinued to maintain the tape taut at the projecting position.

BARTON A. PROCTOR. 

